IRISH DANCE: Princeton High girls’ lacrosse senior star Liz Jacobs, center, celebrates with Gabby Gibbons, right, and Allie Callaway after a PHS goal. Last Thursday, the Dartmouth-bound Jacobs exploded for five goals and an assist to help the Little Tigers top Notre Dame 19-9 in the Mercer County Tournament semifinals, avenging a 15-10 regular season loss to the Irish. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

Liz Jacobs was held without a goal as the Princeton High girls’ lacrosse team fell to Notre Dame 15-10 in early April.

When the rivals met again last Thursday in the semifinals of the Mercer County Tournament, PHS senior star and Dartmouth-bound Jacobs sensed that things were going to come out differently in the rematch.

“It was early in the season and obviously they are a great team,” said Jacobs. “I think throughout the season, we have been jelling a little bit more. I think we always end up doing well at the end of the season.”

After falling behind 3-2 in the MCT contest, which was played at Hightstown High, third-seeded PHS started doing very well as it reeled off seven unanswered goals against the No. 3 Irish to seize momentum. Jacobs spearheaded the 7-0 run, tallying the first three goals, two of them on assists by junior Gabby Gibbons.

“We just picked up a lot of momentum in the transition; we were all making great connections in the midfield,” said Jacobs.

“Gabby had an awesome game and it seemed like we clicked; that was nice. We were all looking for each other.”

The Little Tigers never looked back, pulling away to a 19-9 win over the Irish.

“We just needed to regain control; brush off the last three minutes of the first half and just stay strong and keep persevering,” said Jacobs, who ended up with five goals and an assist in the victory.

“I think a few goals at the beginning of the half definitely helped get us into our groove. I think once we relaxed a little bit as a team, we started playing our game.”

While PHS didn’t quite find its groove on Saturday as it fell 13-11 to WW/P-N in the MCT title game, Jacobs believes the team can end things with a bang as it competes in the state tournament.

“It has been a long four years and we all want to end this on a good note,” said Jacobs of the Little Tigers, who are seeded third in the Group III south sectionals and will host No. 14 Jackson Liberty on May 15 in a first round contest.

“We seem to be coming together a little bit more than we have in the past. We were just on the same page today which was really nice.”